Neither vulnerable. East deals.

Neither vulnerable. East deals.

NORTH

xQ 2

u8 5

v8 7 4 3

wQ 9 7 4 2

WEST EAST

x8 6 5 x4

u3 uK J 10 9 7 2

vA Q 6 2 vK 10 9

wK 10 8 5 3 wA J 6

SOUTH

xA K J 10 9 7 3

uA Q 6 4

vJ 5

wVoid

The bidding:

EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH

1u 4x Dbl Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Three of u

There is a time for everything under the sun, the Good Book tells us. Selecting a time to win a trick and a time to lose one should be a guiding philosophy for all bridge players.

Looking at eight sure tricks in hand after East’s one heart bid, South did not need much from partner to make game, so the bid of four spades meets with our enthusiastic approval, as does West’s double. North delivered the right stuff, but declarer did not make the most of his opportunity.

West led the three of hearts and East’s king lost to the ace. Eager to ruff a losing heart, South continued with the queen from hand. West ruffed and switched to a trump. Although declarer was able to ruff a heart with the queen of spades, there was still a losing heart in the closed hand. Declarer eventually had to concede three more tricks — two diamonds and a heart. Down one doubled.

There was a good chance that West’s opening lead of the three of hearts was a singleton — it certainly was not from more than a doubleton — so the risk of an opposing ruff was strong. Declarer could count on seven trumps and two hearts, so only one heart ruff was required to bring home the contract.

The secret to success was in surrendering a heart trick when declarer was best prepared to do so, and the time for that was at trick two. South should have proceeded with a low heart!

It matters not how the defenders continue. East can win and return a trump. Declarer wins in hand, ruffs his remaining heart loser with the queen, returns to hand with a club ruff, draws trumps and cashes the queen of hearts. The defenders score only two diamond tricks and a heart.

2008 Tribune Media Services